New Japanese restaurant, Kanpai, makes a swift entry into the scene at Souk Al Bahar

UAE: Metrico Design Studio has completed a new Japanese restaurant, Kanpai, which recently opened in the heart of Downtown Dubai’s Souk Al Bahar.

The term “kanpai” refers to a number of things in Japanese tradition, from meaning “cheers” to referring to a warrior; it’s a loaded term that bares a heavy value in the country’s culture.

Coinciding with the theme, the restaurant, which serves Japanese fusion cuisine, boasts a contemporary and cool design that consists of samurai statues and a six-metre long onyx social bar.

Kanpai sits at a comfortable 510m2 and is divided into three separate sections including a main entrance, lounge bar and dining lounge. And though the three are considered separate spaces, they are consistent and thorough in their designs, making the transition from one room to another swift and natural.

“We wanted the transition from dinner to lounge to be very smooth and we knew that through the use of sophisticated design, this could be achieved. The designers made sure to bring elements from the restaurant into the adjacent lounge to ensure…a continuation of the journey,” explains Kanpai’s co-owner, Ahmed Atwi.

He continued: “The lounge is an extension of the restaurant, but has a more upbeat and bolder feel to it…We chose to work with Metrico Design Studio because from all the design teams we met with, they seemed to be the ones who could most relate to our aspirations for the restaurant.”

Settled amongst the other elegant and popular restaurants of Souk Al Bahar, Atwi explained that he was aware of the challenge of competition. Though, as long as Kanpai maintained a unique element through design, those walking through the area would more than likely be lured in.

A main component of Kanpai’s interior comes in the form of large, hand-crafted samurai statues and samurai heads located on the restaurant’s façade and throughout the interior.
Customers can enjoy the rich materials and traditional Japanese elements. Additionally, as the focus of the restaurant, the Tappanyaki table attracts quite a lot of attention, as it’s not only bold in its creation, but also accommodates nearly a dozen customers.

On her inspiration, Caroline Srouki, design manager, Metrico Design Studio, explained: “The Japanese cuisine was the focus, and using the Teppanyaki table was a key element, as the table itself was designed in a way to fit in an open space restaurant.”